Hui-O-Judo

Laurel
Faust began her study of judo on Valentineís Day 1995. Three
months earlier she used judo to win the final match of an
international Okinawan goju ryu karate iri kumi competition
for the USA womenís team. The USA team coach had studied
Laurelís competition and noted frequent use of o soto gari
(major outer reap). Laurel already had some experience with
ukemi and a little experience with throwing. Her coach prepped
her on o soto gaeshi (counter throw to o soto gari) and also
on a neutralization of o soto gari by bear hugging her
opponent after takedown to prevent a point scoring blow. The
USA team took the trophy.

Laurel joined the Newton Judo Club in the Boston area. She
beat a brown belt in her first competitive match. Laurel won
the Tohoku womenís shiai series two years in a row in 1995 and
1996.

After moving to the D.C. area, Laurel studied for three months
at Georgetown Judo. She did judo for about eight years at the
NIH Club, performing several shiais, and this is where she was
first introduced to kata.

Laurel has competed with five partners in four of the judo
katas. She has competed as tori with Steve Poy of the NIH Judo
Club and with Sensei Mark Smith of the Hui-o Club. Mark and
Laurel went to the Nationals together in 2014 and placed fifth
in nage no kata. Laurel competed as uke in nage no kata with
Maria Rosciglione Tagliaferri of NIH/Kintora as tori. Laurel
and Maria went to the Nationals twice. They placed third in
2000.

Mark and Laurel have competed in katame no kata together,
performing both roles and even competing against themselves
once with roles reversed. Laurel has teamed up with Margie
Tamai Kettl in katame no kata, and Mark and Laurel have
competed in kime no kata with Laurel as uke. Laurel also
competed many times with Sensei Taffy Turner of NIH in ju no
kata with Laurel as uke.

Laurel studied at the Baltimore Judo Club with Sensei John
Anderson for several months before earning her shodan in 2001.
Laurel joined the Hui-o Judo Club in May 2013 and she earned
her nidan in November 2013. Laurel is sandan in Okinawan goju
ryu karate.